But the insidiousness of much paid-for-by-vested-interest advertising is that it makes people second guess their own gut level instincts–often by making things more complicated than they really need to be. Take the California Labeling Initiative–Proposition 37–which over a million California’s petitioned to get on the ballot for a statewide vote.

This political season it should come as no surprise to anyone that paid television advertisements don’t necessarily contain (ahem) the truth. Although deep pocketed industries spend millions to win our vote, our loyalties, our buy-in’s to their agendas, more and more people have developed the ability to think critically and avoid succumbing to their influence.

Listen to John Robbins, author Diet for a Small Planet discuss GMO Labeling on Connect the Dots radio.

This week climate change went from political taboo to lead endorsement criteria for at least one elected official—New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg, who endorsed Barack Obama in a BloombergView entitled “A Vote for a President to Lead on Climate Change.”

Listen to Jason Kowalski, Policy Director of 350.org on Connect the Dots on Progressive Radio

In his editorial, Bloomberg wrote that, “Our climate is changing. And while the increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it might be — given this week’s devastation — should compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.” Read More →

What time is it? Where are we? And how do we face up to the demands of this time? Here’s a quote to contemplate

“A civilization the proves incapable of solving the problems it creates is a decadent civilization.
“A civilization that chooses to close its eyes to its most crucial problems is a stricken civilization.

“A civilization that uses its principles for trickery and deceit is a dying civilization.”
– Aimè Cèsaire, 1955,

“We are being bamboozled by lobbyists, it’s time for democracy to be restored,” Deepak Chopra told his guests, Arianna Huffington and Dylan Ratigan at a DeepakHomeBase (DHB) event this week. The topic? Getting money out of politics and ending corporate personhood, a theme central to Ratigan’s new book, Greedy Bastards: How We Can Stop Corporate Communists, Banksters, and Other Vampires from Sucking America Dry. (To watch their conversation on livestream, go here.) Read More →

Now that the Senate turned thumbs down on the Keystone XL Pipeline, it’s time to celebrate a big win for the environment. It was just last fall that Bil MCKibben warned that, “It’s game over for slowing climate change, if we proceed with the Tar Sands XL Keystone Pipeline.” So says Bill McKibben of 350.org quoting NASA scientist James Hansen. Back in November, McKibben invited people to join him at the White House for the Tar Sands action, calling it “the flashpoint for environmental protection.” Read More →

Josh Fox and Mark Ruffalo have a message– the people don’t want fracking. According to a recent Forbes magazine article, Aubrey McClendon, the CEO of Chesapeake Gas, and the chief proponent for fracking, consumes $20,000 bottles of wine. Like many CEO’s, he travels by corporate jet. Yet in an employee memo, McClendon felt himself bested by the citizens calling for water and health protection. He warned his employees that “Our opponents are extremely well-funded.”

But on Monday when hundreds of people from all parts of the Mid-Atlantic region converged on Trenton, N.J. for a rally to protect the Delaware River from fracking, McClendon’s “well-funded” opponents traveled by bus, carrying their signs and their bag lunches with them. And yet in a time of economic crisis, this dedicated citizenry is making itself heard over the better funded corporate P.R. and advertising campaigns.

With a surprise setback to fracking occurring late last week, the rally on the steps of the War Memorial, and the walk to the State legislature was one part cautious victory celebration, one part rededication rally. Read More →

Will the military become the newest home to integrative medicine? Some people think this unlikely match is a winning strategy. Right now, veterans and their families are bearing the burden of the health impacts of a decade of war,” Lt Col. Windy Hendrick, Air Force fighter pilot told the group gathered for the day-long seminar on Integrative Medicine in Action hosted by the Bravewell Collaborative. Working with the Wing Fitness program for the Arizona National Guard, Hendrick, a certified health coach, exemplifies the new face of integrative medicine in military settings. She blends physical fitness, mindfulness and coaching to support veterans addressing an array of health challenges. Read More →

Back when President Obama was a Senator, he promised to label GMO foods, to support the consumer right to know “where their food comes from. Americans should know what they are buying,” he said (see video here.) But despite these promises, it hasn’t happened. Family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations filed suit against Monsanto in New York court over six months ago, but still no action from the President. According to the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) which filed on their behalf, the plaintiffs were forced to sue preemptively to protect themselves from future accusations of patent infringement when Monsanto’s genetically modified seed contaminates their crops, something which cannot be prevented once GM seeds are released. Read More →

Even without grokking the science of climate change, it’s obvious that novel weather events have increased around the country and the world. Thanks to Hurricanes Irene and Lee, at summer’s end, torrential rains swept the Northeast region, flooding the areas where New York’s food comes from. In these upstate regions in Ulster, Sullivan, and Delaware counties, there’s a new breed of organic and sustainable farming. But will those farmers, their farms, and their food survive changing weather patterns to continue to grow and supply the foods health and environmentally conscious people prefer to eat? Read More →

Many urgent social concerns don’t get attention without a star attached to the cause. Fortunately, some celebrity performers are taking the spotlight off themselves and focusing it on crucial matters that affect us all. Read More →

Since 1990, I’ve been writing, reporting, and contemplating the manifold dimensions of health in bestselling books, national magazine articles, blogs, TV and radio programs, and websites. Please share your questions and concerns with me at Alison@HealthJournalist.com follow me on Facebook, or twitter or sign up as a fan to get my Huffington Post blogs here